A single, rural mama's ramblings about parenting boys, finding herself (oh brother), struggle and joy, juggling more jobs than you can shake a stick at, creativity as we attempt to not only survive but somehow live a fulfilling and rich life below the poverty line, humor as a coping mechanism when you'd be a basket case otherwise, and all the beauty that IS.

Monday, January 25, 2016

Well, since my kids are crazy for horses (OK, I am too) we've expanded our farm and are looking into opening a small boarding stable for Icies. We live in a bizarre pocket of Icelandic horses and now that I know them, I'd never ride anything else. Some horsey friends joined me and we armed ourselves with saws this summer while blazing miles and miles of trails around our farm. Add the spectacular view from the upper riding ring, the many pastures, the large tack-room and over-sized box-stalls, I think we should be all set. Adds to the daily chores, but I can't even describe how fun it's been so far, I don't suppose it's any huge money-making venture (horses never are!) but it's the best therapy around. Until the weather got too icky, I was riding daily and Eli has been taking lessons again, which he had been missing terribly for a couple years. Ira loves to visit with his four-legged friends and help clean stalls, he doesn't seem much interested in actually riding quite yet, but he's more timid about those sorts of things and prefers to just brush them and talk to them. I hate to bust out all my lingering, teenage-girl cliches, but life really IS nicer from the back of a horse!

John and I coached the soccer team this year, John's done it for the last three years, as well as Little League, but this was my first time giving it a whirl. I have no idea what I'm doing, of course, but it was too big a group for John to handle alone...he was the real coach, and I was just the one who yelled. With 18 kids on the combined 3/4/5 team, there was a LOT of yelling, so at least I came in handy somewhat. It was a good season, all in all, and I think I understand most of the rules now, maybe I can do more than just holler next year! (I'm posting all these pics in January because I accidentally locked myself out of my blog all winter. Just figured out how to re-access it! Yay!)